Five-0 Redux: Makinen honors blue-collar roots

Actor Karl Makinen is the first to describe himself as a blue-collar actor — someone who has to work hard for every part they land. He’s made a name for himself as a perennial guest star, with appearances on popular television shows like “CSI,” “NCIS,” “The Unit,” “Prison Break,” “Without a Trace,” and “CSI: Miami.”

COURTESY KARL MAKINEN

KARL MAKINEN.

Makinen’s resume is long and the variety of roles he has played, from cops to bad guys, is impressive. The New York native is the son of a police officer, who didn’t understand his drive to be an actor until he landed a role on the first season of “NYPD Blue.”

Unfortunately, Makinen played a cop-killer in the episode, but the role helped his father accept that he had what it took to become a successful actor.

Makinen’s character — a bar owner and family man who protected his patrons from local toughs and was an anonymous supporter of the local police — was expertly written by John Dove and smartly directed by Peter Weller.

Looking at the roles Makinen has played throughout his career, often regular guys who are pushed into a corner and forced to protect themselves or their children, you can understand how he was a perfect fit to play Jack Anderson.

Makinen played Anderson as a true good guy, yet someone whose life was a cover for being on the run from the FBI for 20 years. He accidentally killed a woman while trying to escape the police after a liquor store robbery. Even though we know he killed someone, it seemed like he never committed a crime after the robbery and had spent the last 20 years making his amends.

It was hard not to like Anderson and feel empathy for him. He had stayed straight, had a great wife and two small boys and ran a good business. He was friends with Grover (Chi McBride) and seemed to be a friend to all.

Much like the solid guy Makinen seems to be in real life.

I spoke to Makinen with Amy Bakari during the “Amy and Friends Show” on KPRP-AM 650, and he was as easy to talk to as it was to love him as Jack Anderson. Makinen shared a lot about his life and his acting, as well as his experiences on “Hawaii Five-0.”

“I hadn’t been to Hawaii, so that was pretty awesome. It was so beautiful,” he said. “Then to be able to go to a great place like that and to work on ‘Hawaii Five-0,’ which is a great show. And then not only that, as an actor who is ‘guest star guy,’ and most parts I get, are not necessary full with so many levels to play.

“Thanks to writer John Dove, my guest star is the best guest spot I’ve ever had, as far as a character that has that really has a full arc and so many levels to him. It was awesome to get the part. I was really excited.”

COURTESY CBS

MAKINEN IN A SCENE FROM “HAWAII FIVE-0.”

Makinen was thrilled to be able to sink his teeth into a meaty part.

“Luckily in my life, I don’t have any sort of major regret,” he said. “But you think about little regrets that you have in life and how they eat away at you. That’s why I love this character.

“He was trying so hard to live this other life, in order to make up for the one that he screwed up. And it took a horrible event for him to really face up to it and that was the only way he was going to move on. They just don’t do that on television. They don’t have this kind of guest spots for actors.

“So when I booked the part, I was so excited, because it meant a lot to me as an actor. I have to work hard for every part I get, and when I get a really great one like this I just really appreciate it and love to do it.”

I asked about working with Peter Weller on set, and Makinen talked about what a great experience it was to work with the popular “Hawaii Five-0” director and actor.

“Peter Weller is a character,” he said. “He’s a super intelligent guy. His brain is always jumping ahead to the next scene. He just let me do my work and guided me. He did a great job.”

Makinen also talked about his favorite parts to play.

“I always play bad guys or cops. I think I just have that look,” he said. “Cop parts for me are not as fun as the bad guy. When you play a bad guy, there are so many levels; it’s so much fun.

“Usually I play straight up bad guys, so my mom and dad sometimes ask if they are going to bring me back for another episode. And I have to say no, I’m the bad guy, I either die or go to jail.”

Well, sometimes on “Hawaii Five-0” the bad guys come back.

COURTESY CBS

MAKINEN IN A SCENE FILMED AT THE HIDEAWAY BAR IN WAIKIKI.

Makinen also spoke fondly of shooting at The Hideaway Bar in Waikiki.

“That was my last day of shooting and I had all those fight scenes,” he said. “I practiced for three hours and it was hot and humid. We didn’t get to the fight until about 11:30 at night, but after I met Peter Weller and Laurie Fortier, who played my wife, and we hung out there with the crew.

“That bar has such character. It’s a little dive bar in the midst of this big city. It was great.”

Makinen knows about bars with character as his most recent passion is running his two Los Angeles area restaurants.

“It’s a love of mine. I love food, and I love great people. I love entertaining guests,” he said. “It’s a gastropub called The Local Peasant. Local beer, local wine, local produce, local people, I try to hire local employees.

REDUX SIDE NOTE

If you haven’t seen Ian Anthony Dale’s latest project, the Steven Bochco summer drama series, “Murder in the First,” on TNT, it replays Saturday with a new episode Monday. Dale stars as Lt. Jim Koto, a Stanford graduate and head of the San Francisco Police Department’s homicide unit.———
Wendie Burbridge is a published author, playwright and teacher. Reach her via Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Thanks for my Saturday morning H50 fix, Wendie! To be honest, I wasn’t disappointed with this past season’s guest stars as I have been in previous seasons. I think the show finally figured out how to bring in quality actors and give them something to sink their teeth into to create a great onscreen experience for the viewers (as well as a satisfying job for the actors).

Mr. Makinen brings up a very good point in that most of the guest stars on H50 are given characters that are well written and multi-layered. The actors have something solid to work with and then they are allowed to do their own thing with it!

I’ve been pleasantly surprised with many of the characters this season – the terrorist college girl was fascinating! The teenage daughter who cased out a mark to kill her father for her in last night’s repeat. Nick Jonas’ “Ian.” The father who kidnapped Steve and Danny to get them to prove he was innocent to his daughter. These are a few examples from this season of characters who started out their episode as seemingly a victim or a good person only to be proven otherwise, or as a criminal only to be exonerated – or at least to be shown to have a human, vulnerable side. No wonder actors like to do guest shots on H50 – they get some meaty parts to sink their teeth into (as well as that beautiful work environment!)

Mr. Makinen was a superb guest star – very convincing and sympathetic. So good to hear he enjoyed his experience on the set. Here’s to more great guest stars and fantastic writing of characters for Season 5!

Wendie Joy

Hi Lynnette-
I agree, Karl was great- and your description is perfect- convincing and sympathetic. And I agree the guest stars are well written- especially this season. I especially liked Boo Boo Stewart as well and Michael Madsen. Oh, I think I wrote a blog about it… LOL :) Thanks for your great comment! Aloha, Wendie

Angela Gerstner

I really liked his part on H50 and he did great. That scene when Steve allows his character to say Aloha to his family before he is taken to jail, was quite moving. One felt sorry for him and for having ruined his life accidentally a long time ago. He never felt like a criminal to me.
Definitely a very well-written character and story. But we all know that the H50 creators are usually doing an excellent job ;-)

Wendie Joy

Hi Angie-
That scene at the end was so good. Loved it. I agree, H50 writers/creators are doing a great job this season, especially with good strong guest stars. Mahalo for reading and commenting! Aloha, Wendie

Diane

I’ve seen Karl in some of his other guest appearances. He does play similar characters, but he tends to bring something different to each one. Sign of a good character actor. I hope we see him again, he is Grover’s friend, so maybe we will.

As for Ian Anthony Dale’s new show. I was pulled in by him being on it, but it is actually pretty good. I am hooked. It is suppose to run for 10 episodes for the one case, which is different from what we are used to. At first, it was hard to think of him playing anyone else other than Adam, but he has done a great job. Ian’s character is the boss in this one.

Wendie Joy

Hi Diane! Thanks for the info on IAD’s new show. I had heard he had a small part, but I will tune in and check it out. I watched Karl’s demo reel on his website and was impressed by two things. A- that I remembered many of his guest star roles, and B- how great he was especially when he played a dad. It would be great if he came back- maybe early release for good behavior and the Five-0 team needs some former Green Beret help:) Thanks for reading and posting! Aloha, Wendie

Diane

Hi Wendie,
Ian’s part is not one of the main characters, but he has been in several scenes in each episode so far. His character is also involved with the female DA which looks as though they are hiding it from everyone. His Captain role is showing him very protective of his fellow officers. Very McG like.

Wendie Joy

Cool:) Thanks Diane- I’ve heard good things, and they are 5 episodes in? I’ll definitely check it out- I think I can watch them all On Demand:) Hugs!